“Thanks for doing a thankless job,” I said to the woman removing debris from one of several shopping carts.

It may be impossible to assemble at a shopping mall, but no one said you couldn’t talk to people one at a time. If people were legally permitted to meet at big box stores, maybe the crushing corporate imbalance would not have had a chance to develop.

The price of gas is on top of everyone’s mind. My conversations fall into two categories: people who believe nothing can be done and those who are willing to listen and learn.

This surprised store clerk, repeatedly said, “I didn’t know that,” as I pointed out how we can walk most of the places we drive. I’m still kicking myself for taking four years to figure out that I can walk to one of my favorite hiking trails.

I may not turn every motorist into a pedestrian, but I am offering the possibility of an alternative to hopeless dependence on our cars. I find it empowering to know I have choices. With any luck, I’ll be able to share that energy with people I meet in my travels.

Tags: Conservation, Environment, Politics